Thousands of people in China have had banned Alzheimer’s surgery
Surgery that aims to enhance the clearance of Alzheimer's-associated proteins from the brain has been banned in China, but only after thousands of people had the procedure
In China, over 2,000 people reportedly underwent a controversial experimental surgery to treat Alzheimer's disease. The procedure, deep cervical lymphovenous anastomosis (DCLVA), aims to improve the brain's waste drainage by connecting the lymphatic system to nearby veins. This surgery, developed by Dr. Xie Qingping at Hangzhou Qiushi Hospital in China, was initially reported to have helped a bedridden patient regain the ability to walk, although this case report has been questioned for its reliability and lack of peer review.
Despite concerns about the safety and effectiveness of DCLVA, a randomized controlled trial comparing the surgery against a sham procedure is currently underway in China. The trial, led by Hui-Sheng Chen at the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, aims to recruit 50 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's and is expected to provide a clearer picture of the procedure's potential benefits.
The surgery has been estimated to have been performed on thousands of people in about 300 hospitals across China, with fees ranging from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand Chinese yuan. However, China's National Health Commission banned the procedure outside of research settings in June 2025, citing insufficient evidence on safety and effectiveness.
Experts remain divided on the procedure's merits, with some questioning the ethics of using sham surgery in vulnerable elderly patients.
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